Public Service & Community Art
“I frequently ask myself where my art can be most impactful, and how it can aspire to more.”
Illustration Serving a Larger, Public Purpose
I believe that there are many ways to contribute meaningfully to society, all highly dependent on an individual’s capacity, resources, and skills. I am thankful to have a skill that is often involved in social messaging and PSAs, from the screen printed posters of the WPA in the 1930s-40s to the lettering and portraits adorning Black Lives Matter public art across the country in 2020.
I frequently ask myself where my art can be most impactful, and how it can aspire to more. My answer will likely be ever-changing, but currently my goal is to depict the complexity and intricacies of faces and places that don’t often get a front-row seat. Just as my naturalist education has taught me that biodiversity is the key to a healthy ecosystem, I love drawing a world full of diversity and people who look like me - as well as those who don’t.
Current Projects
I am a recipient of the Gray Center Mellon Collaborative Fellowship, “Common Place,” at the University of Chicago along with two physician researchers who specialize in healthcare disparities. We are working on an arts project that seeks to investigate structural racism through the lens of Covid.
Public Art Case Studies
Click into any of the following public service and/or community art projects for an explanation of how each project came together and how my thoughts and work evolved during the project.
